How to identify the Sikatan Ninon

To correctly identify the Sikatan Ninon (Cyornis ninon), check each of these features. Birds can be tricky: habit, habitat, and call often confirm a sighting that a single photo cannot.

Size at a glance

Length

14-15 cm

Wingspan

20-22 cm

Weight

15-20 g

Physical features to check

1. 1

   Plumage

   Overall feather coloration and pattern.

   Adult male: Glossy dark blue upperparts, including head, back, and wings. The throat and upper breast are also dark blue, contrasting sharply with a bright rufous-orange lower breast, belly, and flanks. The undertail coverts are white. The tail is rufous-chestnut. Adult female: Duller overall. Olive-brown upperparts, often with a faint bluish wash on the crown and rump. The throat is pale buffy-white, transitioning to a dull rufous-orange on the breast and flanks, and whitish on the belly. The tail is rufous-chestnut, similar to the male but often duller. Both sexes have a small, indistinct pale loral spot.

2. 2

   Beak shape

   Shape and color of the bill: a key field mark.

   Slender, pointed, and slightly flattened at the base, typical of an insectivorous flycatcher. Black in color.

3. 3

   Eye color

   Iris color and any distinctive eye markings.

   Dark brown.

4. 4

   Leg color

   Leg and foot color.

   Dark grey to blackish.

5. 5

   Distinguishing features

   Standout features that separate this species.

   The combination of dark blue upperparts and bright rufous underparts (male) or olive-brown upperparts and rufous underparts (female) with a rufous tail is distinctive within its range. The small size and active foraging behavior are also key.

6. 6

   Juvenile appearance

   How young birds differ from adults.

   Juveniles are typically mottled brown and buff, often with scaly patterns on the upperparts and breast, gradually acquiring adult plumage. The rufous tail may be present but duller.

7. 7

   Seasonal changes

   Plumage variation between breeding and non-breeding seasons.

   No significant seasonal plumage changes are noted for this species; plumage remains consistent year-round.

8. 8

   Sexual dimorphism

   How males and females differ.

   Pronounced. Males are much more brightly colored with extensive dark blue plumage, while females are duller olive-brown and rufous.

Key field marks

• Male Plumage. Look for the striking contrast between the glossy dark blue upperparts and throat/upper breast, and the bright rufous-orange lower breast, belly, and flanks. The rufous tail is also a key feature.
• Female Plumage. Identify by the olive-brown upperparts with a faint bluish wash, dull rufous-orange breast/flanks, and the distinctive rufous-chestnut tail.
• Habitat and Behavior. Search in dense undergrowth of montane forests on Sulawesi. Listen for its melodious song, as it is often heard before it is seen, and observe its active, restless foraging style.
• Size and Shape. Note its small, compact flycatcher shape with a relatively short tail and slender bill.

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